Beware Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and co at the World Grand Prix, says Wayne Mardle
Wednesday 7 October 2020 23:30, UK
The World Grand Prix is a crazy rollercoaster-ride that promises to cause shock results, says Wayne Mardle.
The Sky Sports darts expert has explained why big names could crash out at the Dublin event, which starts on Sunday October 4 live on Sky Sports...
This is the only tournament of the year where you start on a double. It's unnatural - but this format just lends itself to drama! Every match has a serious possibility of being an upset.
This could be a tournament where Phil Taylor is taken out early. If Vincent van der Voort doesn't get him, someone else could.
Taylor used to be unbeatable at this format because it was difficult to hit more doubles than him when he put you under pressure. Hitting two was Mission Impossible.
Live World Grand Prix Darts
He doesn't hit doubles as regularly any more. When he falters in matches, it's his doubles, not his scoring, that troubles him.
You can lose confidence and composure. It's weird because on Monday everything's great but when you play on a Friday you feel disarmed and you miss six darts at a double.
But these things turn around. It wouldn't surprise me if Phil went through the tournament without losing a set - it's just unlikelier than it was years ago, when it was a given.
There are banana skins left, right and centre and Michael van Gerwen won't be happy with drawing Keegan Brown. In a way, Brown is a young Van Gerwen.
It plays into Keegan's hands that it's a best-of-three match because anything more than that, and Van Gerwen is the out-and-out favourite. Michael shouldn't be unduly worried but he'll be concerned if Brown gets off from his first dart. But, Michael is a winning machine.
Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld will say they don't care who they play - but listen, they don't want to play each other.
Live World Grand Prix Darts
Of course they don't. The reason they're playing in the first round is because Van Barneveld isn't seeded because he's outside the top eight players in the world.
You're asking for trouble if you're ranked outside of the top eight. He's got to get on with it. Do you want to pick a winner? I'm not even going to try!
Simon Whitlock, like Barney, is a banana skin outside of the top eight because he's a very good double hitter. Because he's played poorly for two years, people don't notice that he's had good performances.
Whitlock has been playing well so Andrew Gilding is in for a tough time.
Gary Anderson v John Henderson - if this is the first round of the World Championship then Gary is a massive favourite. But it's a best-of-three match. Mark Webster, if he hits his tops, could give Stephen Bunting trouble.
It's a tournament where nothing is done and dusted so that makes it special!
Watch day one of the World Grand Prix next Sunday on Sky Sports 3, starting at 7pm.
